An Early College visit

“With freedom comes responsibility,” a sign on Early College High School teacher Candace Leuthold’s classroom door reads.

Leuthold takes that responsibility to heart. She was named one of five Teachers of the Year for Orange County, along with fellow Newport-Mesa Unified teacher Scott Fitzpatrick.

In addition to a ceremony at the Disneyland Hotel, Leuthold was treated to a classroom visit Thursday by state Supt. of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell.

O’Connell was interested in seeing the innovative program at Early College, which allows motivated high school students to earn dozens of college units while enrolled at the school on a Coastline Community College campus in Costa Mesa.

Earlier this year, Early College was named a 2009 California Distinguished School by the state Department of Education, which O’Connell heads.

“I heard of this school, so I wanted to see the college mentality first-hand,” O’Connell said. “I like the idea of college courses being offered at a high school campus.”

Early College’s first round of graduating seniors will receive their diplomas in June.

“These students take two college classes every semester, in addition to all of their high school courses,” Principal Kathy Slawson said.

O’Connell and Leuthold bonded over a shared experience: cancer. Leuthold is a survivor of the disease, as are members of O’Connell’s family.

They also bonded over baseball. At an Angels game honoring top educators at Angel Stadium, O’Connell gave Leuthold the ball he threw out at the beginning of the game.

While in Leuthold’s classroom, O’Connell observed freshman biology students who were building models of molecules like glucose.

“I wish I understood more of what they were doing,” O’Connell joked. “I’m an English guy.”

The students seemed nonplused by O’Connell’s appearance, and continued with their work — an indicator, O’Connell said, of Leuthold’s teaching skills.

“It’s great to see an outstanding teacher in her own environment,” O’Connell said. “You can tell because her students aren’t even distracted.”